Receptacle for electric plugs



B. F. MULDOON 1,908,997

RECEPTACLE FOR ELECTRIC PLUGS Fi led Sept, 12, 1928 mmuunmfluiilm: 1

Ill/(39510111111.

MJ INVENTOR BY W jut-LP ATTCRNEYS Patented May 16, 1933 UNITED STATESPATENT, OFFICE BERNARD F. MULDOON, F MOUNTAINVIEW, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORTO HENRY HYMAN, OF BROOKLYN, YORK RECEPTACLE FOR. ELECTRIC PLUGSApplication filed September 12 1928. Serial No. 305,367.

This invention relates to areceptacle for an electric plug that issuitable for a single socket of a plurality of sockets. Heretofore, ithas been found that when a. plug for an electric socket h. ving terminalblades is inserted in the socket there is suflicient friction betweenthe blade contacts and the socket contacts to render it difiiculttoremove the plug from the socket. The rounded surface of the cap of theplug does not afford a convenient gripping surface, and therefore thefingers are apt to slip off when it is attempted to remove the plug bygrasping the top of the plug. As a result the user in attempting toremove the plug grasps the cord leading to the plug and jerks the plugout with the result that the wires are often pulled off of the bindingscrews and the electrical connection is broken.

By the present invention the receptacle is provided with sockets havingthe faces thereof projecting short distances beyond the face of thereceptacle and the projecting portions of the sockets are made of suchshapes or di- F mensions that an edge of the end of the plug cap extendslaterally beyond the edge of the extension on the sockets, therebyaffording a surface behind which the fingers of the user may be insertedto a slight extent to prevent the fingers from slipping olf when attemptis made to remove the plug. It is not necessary for this purpose to havethe extension-of the sockets proj cot outwardly beyond the face of thereceptacle far enough to make the same unsightly or cause danger of theprojecting portion to be broken off.

The invention will be understood from the description in connection withthe accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a front view of the device,and Fig. 2 is an end View of the same.

In the drawing reference character 1 indicates the face plate of anelectric plug receptacle of a well known type that may be provided withone or more insulating sockets 2, two of the same being shown in theillustrative embodiment of the invention, although a different numbermay be used. The sockets 2 are provided with the usual holes 3 for renorby means of screws, the blades 7 being ceiving the blade contacts of anelectric cord plug.

The'front or visible ends of the sockets 2 are extended, as indicated atit, a short distance beyond the face plate 1. It has been found thatabout one-quarter of an inch is adequate for this purpose. The holes 3,of course, pass through the extensions 4 as well as into the sockets 2.The extensions 4 may be made circular or oval, or of other shapes.

An electric light'cord is indicated at 5, to the end of which the plugcap 6 is attached with the electric wires in the cord 5 connected toblades 7 in the plug in the well known manspaced apart to be insertedinto the holes 3 in the sockets 2. The end of the cap of the plug 6, asindicated at 8, is of such a diameter that the edges of the same projectbeyond the edges of the extensions 4 so that the fingers of the user canobtain a grip at the end of the plug cap for withdrawing the samewithout pulling upon thecord 5.

The end of the cap 6 can be made to extend laterally beyond the edges ofthe extension 4 by having the two of different diameters or by providingnotches or recesses in the extensions 4 or in any other convenientmanner.

I claim:

In combination, an electric plug receptacle having an extension on theface thereof and an electric plug therefor having the end thereofextending laterally beyond said extension, the axial length of saidextension being sufficient to provide a gripping space for lingers ofhuman beings between said plug receptacle and said laterally extendingend of said electric plug.

BERNARD F. MULDOON.

